About Simcon
SIMCON is an annual games convention sponsored by the University of Rochester Simulation Gaming Association (URSGA). Held every March on the University's River Campus, the SIMCON conventions have, for the past thirty years, provided a meeting-place where gameplayers from the Rochester area, the surrounding multistate region, and beyond (including attendees from as far away as California) can learn from each other and from experts in the field, exchange ideas, and test their skills against those of their peers in friendly competition.
Each SIMCON is a three-day conference filled with tournaments, games, game demonstrations, and other events, including:
- The Merchants' Bazaar, a marketplace of games, accessories, and other interesting goods for our attendees' perusal
- The Anime and Video Games Room, showing a wide selection of Japanese animation and featuring video games on various consoles throughout the convention
What is a games convention?
Games conventions are held annually in many locations across the U.S. and around the world, as a means for enthusiasts of the gaming hobby to meet, share ideas, and find new people to play with or against. Conventions normally offer a wide selection of gaming events for their attendees to take part in, including tournaments in various games. The largest conventions (such as Origins and Gen Con) also serve as trade shows for the games industry.
What is the "gaming hobby?"
Gaming hobbyists are a diverse group, including people of all ages and from all walks of life. What they have in common is an enjoyment of one or more of the following types of games:
- Roleplaying Games, in which players create fictional characters inhabiting a setting determined by the game's referee or gamemaster, and play out their characters' adventures in what amounts to collaborative storytelling. Dungeons & Dragons is the example most likely to be familiar (at least in name) to non-players, but dozens of other roleplaying games exist, covering as many genres as the fiction section of a good bookstore.
- Miniatures Games, in which participants play out battles using armies of intricately-painted metal and plastic figures, often on very large tables covered with elaborate miniature terrain and scenery. Examples include fantasy and science fiction based games such as Warhammer and CAV as well as games based on the armies and battles of history.
- Collectible Card Games are the most recent major category to emerge, having been born with the incredibly successful Magic: The Gathering in 1993. These are games in which each player assembles the most competitive deck they can from cards which are purchased in randomly-assorted packs much in the manner of sports cards or other collectible cards. Other popular CCGs include Legend of the Five Rings, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pokemon.
- Boardgames run the gamut from familiar boxed strategy games like Risk and Axis & Allies to the very popular English-language versions of foreign games like Settlers of Catan and its sequels. This category also includes strategic and tactical simulation games based on both historical and fictional conflicts.
Con Badges & Pricing
To attend Simcon, you need a con badge. Different badges and options are available for different needs, and are summarized on the table below. In addition to con badges, there are a few badge passes that get you access to certain events. These can be added to any badge that you purchase. All badges and passes are paid for at the door, but registering online before the con starts will give you a discount.
We try to make badges available to fit everyone's circumstances, but that's not always possible. If your situation requires an exception to these badges, don't worry! Simcon Staff will be happy to talk to you at the con registration table and work out any kinks or problems.
| Title | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Badge | ||
| Standard | $15 | Admission to all three days of the con, excluding badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. |
| Standard w/Student Discount | $12 | Student admission to all three days of the con, excluding badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. You will be required to show a current, valid University of Rochester ID to receive the student discount. |
| Standard w/Pre-Reg Discount | $13 | Admission to all three days of the con, with a pre-registration discount. Excludes badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. |
| Standard w/Pre-Reg and Student Discounts | $10 | Student admission to all three days of the con, with a pre-registration discount. Excludes badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. You will be required to show a current, valid University of Rochester ID to receive the student discount. |
| Warhammer | $15 | Admission to Simcon on Saturday and Sunday, including all Warhammer tournaments and events. Excludes other badge-specific events. |
| Warhammer w/Friday Admission | $20 | Admission to all three days of the con, including all Warhammer tournaments and events. Excludes other badge-specific events. |
| Friday Single-Day | $5 | Admission to Simcon on Friday only. Excludes badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. |
| Saturday Single-Day | $10 | Admission to Simcon on Saturday only. Excludes badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. |
| Sunday Single-Day | $8 | Admission to Simcon on Sunday only. Excludes badge-specific events like Warhammer tournaments. |
| Pass | ||
| Magic Pass | $12 | Allows participation in Magic drafts and related events. Can be added onto any con badge. |
Getting Here
The University of Rochester's River Campus, home of SIMCON, is located along the Genesee River, south of the city's downtown core. It is easily accessible whether you are traveling by car, by train or bus, or by air.
Finding SIMCON on the University campus
While SIMCON events take place across several of the University's buildings, the first place you'll need to go upon arrival is the Registration Desk. For the past several years, Registration has been located in Douglass Dining Center in the Frederick Douglass Building. Adjacent to Wilson Commons and Rush Rhees Library, Douglass has also been our main miniatures and boardgames venue, and the hub of SIMCON.
The University of Rochester maintains a detailed map of the River Campus campus. Go to rochester.edu/maps/, then click the "River Campus" tag on the map that appears.
Driving to SIMCON
The University is located conveniently close to Interstates 390 and 490, which provide direct connections to both the New York State Thruway (I-90) and points south. Driving directions can be easily found via Google Maps.
Parking on the University campus is FREE on the weekend, starting from 7 PM on Friday, except in reserved spaces or where otherwise posted. If you are arriving before 7 PM but after 4 PM on Friday, a parking pass may be purchased for only $2 at the information booth on the Wilson Boulevard island, near the Elmwood Avenue end of campus. Prior to 4 PM, parking passes are $4.
Traveling by Train or Bus
The Rochester AMTRAK train station is located in the city's downtown, just a few minutes (and an inexpensive cab ride) north of the University. Visit amtrak.com for train schedules and fares.
Both Trailways and Greyhound operate from the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transit Authority Bus Terminal, which is part of Midtown Plaza in the downtown shopping district. From there, a short cab ride will take you to the University. Alternatively, RTS city buses operate between the bus terminal and the University campus.
Flying to SIMCON
Greater Rochester International Airport is also conveniently close by, only a few minutes' drive on the other side of the Genesee River from the University. GRIA (standard destination code "ROC") is served by several major airlines with many flights daily.
Accomodations
We have reserved a number of rooms at the Holiday Inn at Rochester Airport for the convenience of con-goers who need a place to stay for Simcon. When you call, tell them your room is for Simcon and you'll be given a reduced rate.
Keeping in Touch
For timely news and updates about Simcon, you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook, as well as checking the homepage.
For more information about URSGA, stop by a meeting!